Machine for automatically connecting cinematograph films of all kinds



Apfilsz, 19241.. I 1,489,261

.u. AMA.l zuw\ MACHINE PoR AUTOMTIGALLY coNNEcTI'NGI"GINEMATOGRAPH FILMS0F ALL KINDs lFiled Dec. so, 1922 2 sheets-sheet '1 www I a 3. 3/5- llarg. 1

April 8 1924. 1,489,261

` u. MALlzlA l MACHINE FQR AUTOMATIGALLY GONNECTING CINEMA'IOGHAPI'IyFILMS 0F ALL KINDS Filed Dec. 30 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ipr. 3,i924.

UNTED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

kUGC) MALIZA, 0F PARIS, IERAJCE.4

MACHINE FKOR AUTOMIATICALLY CONNECTING CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS OF ALL KINDS.

Application led December 30, 1922. Serial No. 610,064.

chine for automatically connecting up cinematograph films which aresubjected to numerous cuts in the process of making up a film. Themachine enfers the particular' advantage of being simple in working andoperable by hand with the aidof a lever which ensures rectilinear'movement of a slide, which carries the whole ot'the accessories forcutting, scraping, moistening and gumming the ends ot the films to bejoined togather.

The rapidity with which, by means of this invention, the .films areconnected is an import-ant feature in a machine of this kind, when it isconsidered to what numerous transformations a film is subjected and theamount of manual work which must actually be undertaken in connectionwith an increasing production.

A feature of particular importance of the machine which is the subjector this invention resides in the mode of holding the film portions vtobe connected and consists in the provision of a system of horizontalplates forming the support for the iilms. One of these plates isarranged to be automatically rotated into a vertical position in ordernot t0 hinder the passage of the slide in the torward direction and topresent a part of the film or the operations of cutting and moistening.During the return movement of the slide, on the one hand the scraping ofthe gelatine and the gumming of the movable portion of film is effected,while on the other hand the cutting and gumming of the stationaryportion of film .is also brought about.

ln the extreme return position of the sliding carriage, the movableplate re--assumes the horizontal position and pressure is eX- erted inorder to secure good contact for eifecting the final connection of theparts.

ln the annexed drawings which illustrate by way of example a machineaccording to this invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine in its inoperative condition,

Fig. 2 is a similar plan View showing the carriage in the course ofoperation,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along the f axis of the film supports,

Fig. 4 shows in detail the mechanism for bringing about the angularmovement of one support,

Fig. 5 illustrates respectively the front and rear elevations Aoit' thecarriage, and y F ig. 6 is a transverse section through one of theplates.

The machine consists essentially of a frame 1 with extension memberscarrying the plates 2 and 3 which are adapted t0 receive the films Iland 5, the guide rods 6 on which slides the carriage 7 and the cam 15whereby the carriage automatically operates the reversible plate 3.

The plates '2 and 3 are composed of a lower or base plate 8 and a topplate 9. The plate 2 is. secured to the frame by means of' four screwsand the plate 3 is hinged on the shaft 10 of the controlling mechanismin order to enable it to be rotated into a vertical position when thelever L controlling the carriage has been operated to a certainposition.

The portions of the lilm to be'connected are placed on the platesbetween the upper and lower members and are held in position by means ofpins 11 (Fig. 6) which enter the perforations in the film. These pinsare afterwards tightened when the top member is secured to the lockingdevice 12. f

In placing the films on the plates 2 and 3, it should be noted that therotatable plate 3 must be dealt with first, the sensitized side being ontop so that the lilm 5 is in position to be cut. coated with gum andthen connected. The fitting up of the plate 2 is not carried out untilafter the carriage has been actuated as will hereinafter be more clearlyseen.

The various operations eii'ected` on this nlm are first donesuperficially in a definite order on the first movement of the carriageand afterwards simultaneously for the two films on the return or secondmovement of the carriage.

The carriage, which is actuated by the lever L, upon being displaced onthe guides 6,

by means of a finger 13 carrying the roller 14, operates a cam 15, whichis plvoted at 16. Thereupon the cam, by means of a stub axle 17 whichpasses through the eye piece 18 raises a vertical rod 19 which is guidedin the framework. Movement of the rod 19 is transmitted to the shaft 10,upon which 4is mounted the tilting plate 3, by means of a pin 17 on therod, which engages the slotted level' 18 fixed to the shaft 10. (Seeparticularly Figure fl). Since the angular movement is limited to 90,the plate 3 is brought into a vertical position when the carriage hasbeen moved tothe position shown in Fig. 2 by means of its actuatinglever.

In its passage in front of the film which is now held in verticalposition, the carriage has effected the cutting of the end of this filmby a knife 20 at the forward end of the carriage, has moistened andsuperfioially scraped the emulsion oft1 the film by the passagesuccessively thereover Vof a gumming pad 21 and scrapers 22, and finallyat the end of its forward travel it has brought the moistening pad 23into contact with the extremity of the film.

In this position of the carriage and of the movable plate the secondportion of the film is attached to the plate 2.

The time necessary for the connection to the fixed plate 2 will permitthe moistening pad 23 to moisten the film 5. As soon as the plate 2 isfitted up with the film, the lever is actuated to bring the carriageback to its initial position and to effect thereby the gumming togetherof the films. The carriage on its return movement, in again passing infront of the film which is held in vertical position effects the finalscraping of the gelatine and thereafter coats the scraped portion withgum. However while these operations are taking place on the film 5, acutter 24 cuts the end of the film portion 4l on the horizontal plate 2and a pad 25 coats the film with gum at the same moment as the filmportion 5 receives the contact of the gumming pad 21. This simultaneousgumming of the films is important in that the .extremities of the filmsto be connected should both be ready to receive the pressure fortheiragglutination. This pressure can be produced in any desired way by thesudden return of the plate 3 to its horizontal position thus strikingthe top member 26 of the plate 2 in the return of the parts to theirinitial position.

As will be readily seen the function of the machine on the whole issimple and its most important feature resides in the provision of themovable plate which enables the slide carrying the connecting mechanismto operate simultaneously on the films which at stance the connection ofthe lever to the oar-l riage, the limiting of the movement of thecarriage on its yguides by end stops, the internal arrangement of the',carriage into compartments containing glutinous agents and water for usein the operations above described. It should be mentioned, however, thatthe top and bottom members of the plates are provided with windows oropenings 27 and 28 which permit inspection of the pictures on the filmagainst a suitable source o'f light. These inspection open.- ings aremoreover combined with an adjustable window 29 to enable the machine tobe adapted to any kind of division of the film.

What l claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A machine forthe automatic connection of two cinametograph and like films comprisinga xed horizontal plate for holding one of said films, a second plate forholding said other being rotatable about a horizontal aXis from ahorizontal to a vertical position, a sliding carriage arranged to causesaid rotation of said second plate, a lever for moving said carriage,means on said carriage for preparing said films for connection when saidcarriage slides past them and means for returning said second plate to ahorizontal position when said carriage returns to its initial position.

2. ln a machine for the automatic connection of two cinematograph orlike films, a sliding carriage, guide bars for ensuring rectilinearmotion of said carriage, a projection on said carriage, a cam adapted tobe engaged by said projection, a system of vlevers operated by said camand a movable plate for holding one of said films and adapted to berotated about a horizontal axis when said levers are operated. A

3. In a machine for the automatic connection of two Cinematograph orlike films, a sliding carriage, having a vertical and a horizontal face,a horizontal cutter, a gumming pad, flexible Scrapers and a moisteningpad in order on said vertical face and a vertical cutter and a gummingpad on said horizontal face.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

UGC) MALlZIA.

lm, said second plate etv

